You can use a common 30p household item to stop spiders getting in your house during mating season

Last week, it was reported that hoards of sex-crazed spiders will soon be invading homes across the country as summer draws to a close.

It wasn’t the most enjoyable of reads – let’s just say the idea of male spiders streaking across the house to mate with a female counterpart who will subsequently lay hundreds of eggs wasn’t a comforting thought –  and the majority of us were left in a state of despair as to how we’re going to cope with the influx of creepy-crawlies these next few months.

But fear not, because there may be a simple solution to prevent the critters from invading your home this autumn – lemons.

Myfanwy Owen / Unsplash

Yep, according to Expert Home Tips, spiders completely detest the scent of lemons, so rubbing the peel from the citrus fruit over your windowsills, bookshelves, and anywhere else you may usually find spiders could help move them along and out of your home – with the added benefit of making your house smell wonderful too. 

And if you’re not too keen on your home smelling like a giant lemon, there are a couple of other cost effective hacks you can try, such as a homemade peppermint solution.

Much like lemons, spiders aren’t too keen on peppermint, so it could be worth mixing peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle, which you can then spray in the corners of your home to deter the pests.

You could also allow your home to bask in plenty of natural light. Spiders absolutely love dark environments (hence why you often find them lurking in the shadows), so try and have your curtains and blinds open throughout the day. 

@MichelaArfanotti / Wikimedia Commons

Another hack is to avoid a build up of clutter. Spiders thrive in damp, dark and cluttered spaces, so the less mess in your home, the less space there will be for creepy crawlies to set up shop. Make sure you vacuum and dust regularly, and store things away in plastic-lid boxes rather than cardboard to prevent spiders gaining access.

There’s also the option to lay essential oils – spiders ‘smell’ with their legs, so strong scents will deter them from leaving their nooks and crannies.

Tea tree, rose, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus are good oils to try. – though make sure you spray corners, window sills and skirting boards and top up regularly.